Covsting76,

I didn't see anything in your post which would rule out military pilot training. That option was not on my list either, until I got a low number in the draft lottery 40 years ago. Turned out to be a life-changing good deal. Of course, I don't know how this would work out for you, but then I didn't know how it was going to work out for me either.

 

You seem to have a lot on your plate already. You will have to dedicate a lot of time to getting your license. I know it's hard, but I would wait until after the wedding/buying a house. BTW, make sure your future wife is 100% cool with this. It is expensive and time consuming and a lot of people don't like the idea of family members flying in small airplanes. Trust me, I know this and the long string of ex's can prove it.

 

I was in a similar situation. I recently got married and am currently in my 4th year of medical school. I just figured things were going to get worse with residency around the corner and kids not far off in the future. I just went for it. I used some of my loan money and figured if I didn't do it now, I would probably keep finding excuses until I retired. I think its really important to stay on top of things and keep studying. The more you study, the less time you have to spend up in the air in excess of the 40hrs to get your PPL.

Luckily I have a very understanding wife =)

 

Well everyone has different values... I still say if flying is that much in you, then it is part of who you are - and will never leave you. If anyone on this planet will willfully try to prevent you from being who you are for their benefit (or to satisfy their urge for power or control or if it didn't work out for them), then they aren't the right person for you to be with, or listen to. You got your entire life to paint drywall, replace counter tops, and constantly clean... I bet your girlfriend knows this bug exists in you, and she would probably be very proud to be married to a pilot... Private or Commercial. Think of the adventure you could have together even with just the private? Driving kids to soccer practice hardly sounds exciting to me - but that's just me. Get a 0 interest credit card and pay it off within 1 year. The urge won't go away until you at least get your private... Do you wanna be safe and bored? Or do you wanna travel the skies? It's easier to learn when you are still young.

 

Haven't read other posts, so forgive my possible redundancy.

I just put in every.single.extra.dime I have into flying. I look at things and say, how much is that worth in flight hours? Do I really need it? Am I really that hungry today? (sort of joking about that one). I spend all day at the airport so I can save gas going and coming (live kind of far away). Basically I eat, sleep, breathe and crap flying. Probably not an option for everyone.

 

Thank you all for the advice, this really helps. I am attempting to set money aside in a seperate "secert" account to put toward this but as i said it just seems like one thing after another. I finially get some cash flow saved up and my car takes a crap and i need to drop 6k on a new vechile. I am starting to save back up and my gf is talking about marriage and getting a house which is something i want as well, as i said it just seems like one thing after another... and then comes kids and i am really screwed hahaha.

I do like the idea of the 0% interest credit card. I could fund at least half of it and then def. pay the other half off within a year but I dont think the mom and pop flight schools except American Express.

Thanks again!

 

If you have not yet done so, take a discovery flight. If you have and enjoyed it, start attending a part 61 school as others have mentioned. Mom and Pop flight schools will most certainly accept Amex. 1 or 2 flights as you can afford / manage, and just enjoy yourself. If you try to figure out how you will obtain your ATP at this juncture you will lose sight of your primary goal. I started as a helicopter student with plans on that as my future. I'm now a Lear 60 pilot, (not a helicopter) with my ATP, and a house, and a new wife. Things have a way of working out, but you must take a step and stop delaying. Like they say "Life is what happens while you are busy making plans".

 

I am sure that in my 20's I would have written the same thing. Priorities change over time. It is difficult for a spouse to be supportive of an endeavor such as aviation that has the ability to consume so much of the family resources.

The drive to fly might never leave you but it is much easier to do without flying than to loose a family over it. However as you mentioned we all have different interests. It all boils down to what really matters to you.

The money it takes to get a private license could pay for a lot of other things that would have a larger benefit to your life.

Just something to think about.

Skyhigh

 

I'm gonna disagree here. We are talking about recreational flying...

Everybody is entitled to have some fun, whatever they want it to be. If you don't have a family yet there's nothing that wrong with spending all of your money on fun (although I would recommend investing a portion of your income while young...it goes a lot further at that age).

I think recreational flying is within a reasonable cost bracket for the typical young working professional...it's near the upper end so you might have to budget your other activities while training, but it's doable without going into debt.

 

I was in my local flight school today and noticed that the rental price on a 152 went up to $100/hour. An instructor is another $50. Once getting trained staying current is also very expensive.

Other hobbies cost money as well. A guy could pay 10 to 15K getting a private license or buy a Harley Davidson. At least once the Harley becomes boring it can be sold and the money used to buy something else.

It costs a lot of money to learn how to fly and once spent it is gone forever. I agree that a guy needs a recreational outlet but flying for fun is not the same as going to a football game or playing XBox.

Unless you are wealthy and have a lot of time on your hands getting a private license is usually a dead end. It gets old slapping down the plastic to the tune of a few hundred every time you want to do a few touch and goes.

Skyhigh